Dispensing apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing a beverage may include separate pressure regulators to independently control pressure at a beverage source and also at a beverage pump. The pump may function to drive/draw a beverage (such as a beer) from a source to a dispensing station. In operation, the apparatus may be configured to transmit a pressurized gas from a source through one regulator and then to the beverage source, with the regulator functioning to control the pressure at the beverage source. The apparatus may also be configured to transmit gas from the source, through the other regulator, and then to the pump, with that other regulator functioning to maintain pressure in the system as the beverage travels from the pump to the dispensing station. This dual pressure control allows a user to maintain a beverage at a consistent pressure when traveling from the beverage source to a dispensing station.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A beverage dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a source of pressurized gas;   a first pressure regulator and a second pressure regulator, each pressure regulator communicating with the source of pressurized gas;   a pump having a beverage inlet, a beverage outlet and a gas inlet, the gas inlet communicating with the second pressure regulator;   a beverage source having a gas inlet and a beverage outlet, the gas inlet communicating with first pressure regulator, and the beverage outlet of the beverage source communicating with the beverage inlet of the pump;   a foam control detector having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the foam control detector communicating with the beverage outlet of the pump; and   a beverage dispensing station in communication with the outlet of the foam control detector.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage source is a keg of beer. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage source is a cask. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage source is a vat. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage dispensing station is a beer tower. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage dispensing station is a beer engine. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pump comprises a flow reversal valve. 
     
     
         8 . A beverage dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a first pressure regulator and a second pressure regulator, the first pressure regulator having an inlet, an outlet and a body defining a conduit that extends through the regulator, the second pressure regulator having a inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the second pressure regulator communicating with one end of the conduit of the first pressure regulator so that a gas may be transmitted through the first pressure regulator and to the inlet of the second pressure regulator;   a gas operated beverage pump including a flow reversal valve and a gas inlet, the gas inlet communicating with the outlet of the second pressure regulator, and the flow reversal valve having a beverage inlet and a beverage outlet; and   a foam control detector having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the foam control detector communicating with the beverage outlet of the pump.   
     
     
         9 . A beverage dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a source of pressurized gas;   at least two first pressure regulators and at least two second pressure regulators, each pressure regulator communicating with the source of pressurized gas;   at least two pumps, each pump having a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet and a gas inlet, the gas inlet of each pump communicating with one of the second pressure regulators and each of the second pressure regulators communicating with only one of the pumps;   at least two beverage sources, each beverage source having a gas inlet and a beverage outlet, the gas inlet communicating with one of the first pressure regulators and each of the first pressure regulators communicating with only one of the beverage sources;   a beverage dispensing station in communication with the beverage outlet of at least one of the pumps.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least two beverage sources comprise at least two different beverages. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the at least two different beverages are two different varieties of beer. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein each pump comprises a flow reversal valve. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , comprising at least two foam control detectors, each detector having an inlet and an outlet, with the inlet of each detector communicating with the liquid outlet of one of the pumps and the outlet of each detector communicating with the beverage dispensing station. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the beverage dispensing station is a beer tower. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the beverage source is a keg of beer. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the beverage source is a cask. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the beverage source is a vat.